Top 2026 NFL draft prospects are converging on Mobile, Alabama, this week for the Panini Senior Bowl. The annual invite-only showcase begins with practices Tuesday and concludes with a recreation Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network). Senior Bowl week additionally permits all 32 NFL groups to get face time with greater than 100 prospects.
There are two-hour apply periods Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You can try apply protection Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN App, and then at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App. Thursday’s practices will air at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App, and then at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNNews. (There will likely be a re-airing on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET.)
NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates will likely be available, and we requested them to break down the prime gamers to watch — together with the quarterbacks in attendance — and what these prospects want to present this week. Our crew additionally picked potential risers and made predictions for what is going to occur over the course of the week. (Be certain to verify again all week on ESPN.com for prime risers and standouts.)
Jump to:
Top prospects to watch
QB | WR/TE | More offense
Edge rusher | CB | More protection
Predicting risers
Which prospect are you most excited to see in Mobile?
(*15*)
Miller: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida. Banks stands out on tape when wholesome. But he wasn’t wholesome this previous season after struggling a foot damage in fall camp that finally restricted him to three video games. If he is properly sufficient to take part this week, Banks may reignite the Round 1 buzz he had coming into the season. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound nostril sort out has a uncommon speed-to-power mixture that may be a must-watch in particular person drills towards Senior Bowl offensive linemen.
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
Reid: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State. Johnson was named Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year after intercepting 4 passes this season, two of which he returned for touchdowns. A real technician, the 6-foot 185-pounder has excellent foot quickness, which permits him to stay sticky in press protection. He additionally reveals the spatial consciousness to make performs in zone. Johnson wants to reply questions on his vertical velocity and whether or not he can play with power-conference receivers, however he is already receiving sturdy Day 2 buzz. Don’t be stunned if he is entrenched in the prime 50 with a great efficiency in Mobile.
Yates; Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech. Why not go slightly off the board right here? I consider Rutledge will hear his identify known as on Day 2, as he began 26 video games the previous two seasons for a Yellow Jackets staff that depends on hole schemes in the operating recreation. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder is one in every of this draft’s most bodily gamers, a trait he’ll have the likelihood to showcase throughout one-on-ones. There are sure gamers whose play type instantly attracts you in, and Rutledge does that for me. He may put a defender on his again just a few instances this week, each in practices and in Saturday’s recreation.
Make one prediction about the Senior Bowl quarterbacks.
Reid: LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier will likely be the most spectacular passer this week as a result of his anticipation and accuracy will shine in this setting. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Nussmeier has a daredevil mentality and is not shy about throwing into tight home windows over the center of the area or outdoors the numbers. His expertise with altering protections at the line of scrimmage may even stand out. After a disappointing, injury-plagued season, Nussmeier will likely be trying to recapture the early-round buzz he had coming into 2025. In talking to scouts over the previous few weeks, the highest projection I’ve heard is Round 3, however others had Round 5 or 6 grades on him. I believe Nussmeier will enhance on these this week.
Make one prediction about the go catchers.
Yates: There will likely be a interval of apply when NC State tight finish Justin Joly steals the highlight. Joly, who spent his closing two seasons with the Wolfpack after two years at UConn, is a terrific athlete and receiver at the place. Though he’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 263 kilos on NC State’s roster (Senior Bowl-verified measurements will come out early subsequent week), he has the timing and catch radius to be a type of “just throw it in his direction” go catchers. And keep watch over him for Rounds 3-5 at the draft.
0:24
CJ Bailey throws 10-yard landing go to Justin Joly
CJ Bailey throws 10-yard landing go vs. Campbell Fighting
Make one prediction about the remainder of the offensive group.
Miller: Penn State operating again Nicholas Singleton will escape. He has the instruments to shine at the Senior Bowl after a quiet season in which he had solely 549 speeding yards on 123 carries as a part of a larger Nittany Lions offensive malaise. Singleton’s burst at 6 ft, 224 kilos stands out as a trait that groups will all the time covet when evaluating operating backs. There is not a transparent RB2 in the class behind Jeremiyah Love, and Singleton may rise into that rating.
Make one prediction about the edge rusher group.
Reid: We’ll be speaking about Texas Tech’s Romello Height as one in every of the greatest risers of the week, and I anticipate him to generate eye-popping strain throughout one-on-ones due to his bend and dedication. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Height mixed with David Bailey to kind a fearsome Red Raiders go rush, ending with 10 sacks this season. Height is a bit lean and will flip 25 earlier than subsequent season, however he may have a right away, pivotal function as a situational go rusher in the NFL. I see a late-Day 2, early-Day 3 prospect.
Make one prediction about the cornerback group.
Miller: Georgia is understood for producing NFL defensive backs, and Daylen Everette will escape this week thanks to his elite dimension and SEC expertise. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is sticky at the line of scrimmage and has parlayed that into 5 profession interceptions. Everette’s expertise in press protection makes him stand out on tape. And with the lack of high-end receiver expertise at the Senior Bowl, Everette — who might be a third-rounder — ought to excel in one-on-ones and when requested to hold close to the line of scrimmage.
What to know for the 2026 NFL draft
• Mocks: Kiper | Reid | Yates | Miller
• Rankings: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates
• Best by place | Draft order | More
Make one prediction about the remainder of the defensive group.
Yates: Pittsburgh’s Kyle Louis will emerge as one in every of the large winners of the week. He was a star linebacker for the Panthers, however he’ll virtually assuredly transfer to security in the NFL due to his body (6-foot-1, 220 kilos) — and I consider he has the abilities to grow to be a starter there. Louis has wonderful ball abilities (six interceptions over the previous two seasons) and unmistakable tenacity. His vitality will present up in apply, as will his protection abilities towards tight ends. I consider he is a Day 2 decide.
Call your shot now: Which potential Day 3 sleepers will likely be large risers this week?
Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri. Coleman emerged as the Tigers’ No. 1 large receiver and a fifth-round prospect this season, catching 66 passes for 732 yards and 1 landing. His yards-after-catch potential at 5-foot-11, 180 kilos is notable. He’s electrical in house and has elite acceleration abilities. Coleman additionally returned a punt for a landing this season, additional highlighting his elusiveness. It appears as if an undersized receiver turns heads yearly in Mobile, and Coleman’s route-running abilities and pure velocity ought to stand out. — Miller
Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn. Though first-round lock Keldric Faulk is the Auburn go rusher who will get the headlines, Crawford caught my consideration once I watched the Tigers this season. He completed fourth in the SEC with 43 pressures and is a flexible athlete with good quickness off the edge, together with standout hand utilization. He makes use of a formidable swipe-and-chop transfer to get round go protectors and ought to give tackles matches throughout one-on-ones. Crawford may come off the board anyplace from Round 3 to Round 5. — Yates
J’Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia. Taylor was the engine of the Cavaliers’ offense and one in every of the greatest surprises in the ACC this season. The North Carolina Central switch made the FCS-to-FBS transition with ease, main convention operating backs with 14 touchdowns and ending third with 1,062 speeding yards. Taylor is a sturdy, balanced rusher who additionally has worth as a go catcher out of the backfield. It’s powerful for operating backs to excel in an all-star recreation setting, however Taylor is a fourth- or fifth-round prospect who may discover his inventory hovering after Senior Bowl week. — Reid
Tacario Davis, CB, Washington. Remember two years in the past, when Davis was at Arizona and we had been speaking about him as a possible Round 1 participant? The 6-foot-4, 200-pound nook adopted coach Jedd Fisch to Washington and noticed his play decline, however the instruments are nonetheless there. This week might be a reminder to scouts of his uncooked potential. As a press-coverage standout, Davis needs to be sticking to receivers at the line of scrimmage all week in apply. He carries a fifth-round grade at the second. — Miller
0:20
Tacario Davis grabs interception vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Tacario Davis grabs interception vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State. Hurst had a wonderful closing season that included 4 video games with 100-plus yards and 4 with a 50-plus-yard catch. Hurst is a big-bodied wideout (6-foot-3, 185 kilos) with spectacular motion abilities. Georgia State used him as a vertical risk and an beneath goal on display screen alternatives. When he reaches prime velocity, it is spectacular to watch. This week will likely be a great take a look at towards top-tier competitors, and I believe he is a late-Day 2, early-Day 3 prospect. — Yates
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State. He performed properly towards Texas Tech’s Bailey-Height edge rusher duo and is a extremely athletic sort out prospect. A former soccer and basketball participant, Iheanachor’s sturdy arms and mild ft make him a primary candidate to shine throughout one-on-one pass-rush drills. He wants to get stronger as a run blocker, however Iheanachor is one in every of the finest go blockers in this 12 months’s class. He’s seen as a middle-round decide however may rise into the prime 100 after this week. — Reid
